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Daily DigestYuck!
 There's a winter storm warning in effect until 7 a.m. on Thursday with another 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Could be another messy commute. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
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Like to Write?
 iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
ObituariesRegionWhat's PlayingSales FliersColumnists | Independent Investor
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Other StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
Obama TransitionRelated Stories |
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Gifts That Spread the Christmas SpiritBy Linda Carman - December 15, 2007
 | | The annual ornament auction raises funds for the Heifer Project. |
WILLIAMSTOWN - Giving gifts at Christmas is a time-honored aspect of the holiday. Scriptual precedent may be the gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by the three Wise Men to the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem. In a more general way, gifts signal a wish for abundance in the coming year, and a belief that light and life will return after the year’s darkest days.
For many, however, abundance is unimaginable and sustenance a challenge.
While expensive garments, gizmos and baubles clog the aisles of interchangable shops, and charities send out their annual appeals, there is a segment of gifts that benefit the needy and delight the recipients at the same time.
One such is the auction of ornaments to benefit Heifer Project International, coming up Sunday evening at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Park Street at 6:30. Proceeds buy livestock for needy people, mostly, but not all, in developing countries.
Another is Mother Raile’s red lentil soup in a $10 package that includes a recipe for the soup - these, sold through the ecumenical Sudan Relief Task Force, fund educational programs for internally displaced persons in camps outside the country’s capital, Khartoum. While more attention has focused on the ravaged southern region of Darfur, need among other refugees continues.
Ornamental Auction
Heifer Project auction coordinator Barbara Kourajian, also music director at St. John’s, is elated at the growth of the auction, now in its ninth year, and its proceeds.
Renate Kopynec shows some of the baskets available at Wild Oats. |
"When we first started, and raised a little over $100, we thought we were doing really well," Kourajian said.
The phrase leaps and bounds can be taken literally: "Two years ago, we raised enough for two heifers, a water buffalo and a hive of bees.”
A heifer costs $500.
"We don't know exactly which country they're going to - wherever there's a need. Along with the animal, recipients receive training in how to use it. And when the animal has offspring, those are passed along to others in need," Kourajian said.
According to information on its Web site, Heifer International has helped seven million families in more than 125 countries improve their life and move toward greater self-reliance since its founding in 1944. And "passing on the gift" helps build strong communities, according to its statement of purpose.
“Now the excitement builds as we get close to the cost of some of these larger animals," said Kourajian. "The ornaments are just sort of the frosting now - of course, you get some beautiful ornaments.”
Auctioneers are Laurie Glover and Adrienne Wootters, aka Holly and Jolly, the Yule twins.
"It's a lot of fun just hearing the banter," Kourajian said. "It's exciting to know you can get together and have fun and really help someone. It's the most fun you can have spending your money."
Those unable to attend may drop off a check at the church office to add to the total.
The Sudanese Relief Task Force sends money every month "directly into the school programs for salaries, materials, lunch programs," according to co-Chairwoman Elizabeth Williams.
Proceeds from the sale of soup goes into the pot, so to speak. The ecumenical organization is based at First Congregational Church with strong participation from St. John’s and First United Methodist.
Other gift possibilities are notecards from both the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation and ABC (A Better Chance program); maple syrup from Hopkins Forest sugar maples available at Williams College's Center for Environmental Studies, and books from the Williamstown House of Local History. These include "Williamstown Cookery: Celebrating 250 Years of Recipes" and the official town history "Williamstown: The Past 250 years."
More Than Muffins
A slew of items at Wild Oats Whole Foods Market benefit artisans in various countries. These include baskets from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand and Haiti. Others in that category are winsome angels, a bright blue cat and a pair of onyx candlesticks.
"We purchase them through A Greater Gift, which makes sure that the people who make the product are paid a fair wage," said store operations manager Renate Kopynec.
And store personnel will gladly help a customer select items such as fair-trade coffee and chocolate, and local items such as wildflower honey or goat cheese, to create an ample gift basket.
Museum shops offer unusual and, of course, artistic gifts. |
Unusual gifts - jewelry, note cards, books and an array of tchochkes with style (yes, refrigerator magnets), and of course ubiquitous tote bags are available at the museum shops of both the Williams College Museum of Art and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Possibilities range from William Morris design note cubes to large and amply illustrated books on all manner of art.
And while mall and big-box stores can carry pretty much predictable and interchangeable items, small owner-operated stores such as Where'd You Get That!? specialize in whimsical and mind-stretching creations. Laser chess, anyone? |
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